Pedicure foot stool with translating and pivoting top to transition between  storage and use states

ABSTRACT

An apparatus includes a plurality of sides configured as a container with at least a front and a back and a cavity therein. A first side of the plurality of sides includes a first major surface and a second major surface, which opposes the first major surface. The second major surface includes a foot support. The first side further includes a forward edge, a back edge, a side that extends between the front and back edges, and a hole in side adjacent to the back edge. A second side of the plurality of sides has a slot extending in a direction between the front and the back. A pin extends through the slot and into the hole securing the first side to the container. The first side pivots with the pin in the slot and translates with the pin in the slot between the front and the back.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The following relates to a pedicure foot stool and more particular to apedicure foot stool with a top side that is configured to manuallytranslate and pivot to transition the pedicure foot stool between astorage state in which a foot support attached to the top side is storedinside the pedicure foot stool and a use state in which the foot supportis positioned outside of the pedicure foot stool.

BACKGROUND

A pedicure is a treatment of a foot of an individual and has been donefor cosmetic, therapeutic and medical purposes. For example, a pedicurehas been performed to remove of dead skin cells, file nails, trim nails,polish and/or paint nails, etc. A pedicure is performed by trainedpersonnel at spas, salons, etc., as well as at home, e.g., by theindividual (a self-pedicure), a friend, a family member, etc. Some spas,salons, etc. have elaborate and expensive pedicure stations, whichinclude chairs with a specialized foot stool and instrument storagecompartment attached thereto. For a “home” pedicure, it can be difficultfor the individual to position and maintain the foot in a comfortableposition while performing the pedicure.

U.S. Pat. No. 6,532,969 B2 ('969) discloses a self-pedicure unit with afoot support. Unfortunately, this self-pedicure unit is complicated touse, requiring opening multiple doors to set it up and have access toits storage compartments. Furthermore, it requires the user to raise thefoot support up and lock it into place. Furthermore, this motion isrestricted to either a flat or a single incline position, so it maydifficult for the individual to position and maintain the foot in acomfortable position while performing the pedicure. Furthermore, whenclosed for storage, the foot support remains on the outside of the unit,leaving an extraneous protrusion susceptible to snagging on anotherobject, increasing the overall size of the unit, and making it difficultto store, e.g., it may be difficult to place an item on top of the unitdue to the uneven surface and protrusion.

SUMMARY

Aspects of the application address the above matters, and others.

In one aspect, an apparatus includes a plurality of sides configured asa container with at least a front and a back and a cavity therein. Afirst side of the plurality of sides includes a first major surface anda second major surface, which opposes the first major surface. Thesecond major surface includes a foot support. The first side furtherincludes a forward edge, a back edge, a side that extends between thefront and back edges, and a hole in side adjacent to the back edge. Asecond side of the plurality of sides has a slot extending in adirection between the front and the back. A pin extends through the slotand into the hole securing the first side to the container. The firstside pivots with the pin in the slot and translates with the pin in theslot between the front and the back.

In another aspect, a method includes pivoting a top side of a pedicurefoot stool about a pivot with respect to a body of the pedicure footstool through an arc of one hundred and eighty degrees. The methodfurther includes translating the top side of the pedicure foot stool,via the pivot, through a slot in at least one side of the pedicure footstool. The pivoting and translating transition the pedicure foot stoolbetween a first state in which a foot support attached to a first majorsurface of the top side is positioned in a cavity of the pedicure footstool and a second state in which the foot support attached to the firstmajor surface of the top side is positioned outside of the cavity of thepedicure foot stool.

Those skilled in the art will recognize still other aspects of thepresent application upon reading and understanding the attacheddescription.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The application is illustrated by way of example and not limitation inthe figures of the accompanying drawings, in which like referencesindicate similar elements and in which:

FIG. 1 schematically illustrates a perspective view of a pedicure footstool in a storage state in which a foot support is inside a cavity ofthe pedicure foot stool;

FIG. 2 schematically illustrates a top-down view looking into a firstmajor surface of a top side of the pedicure foot stool in the storagestate, where the foot support is located on an opposing second majorsurface inside the cavity;

FIG. 3 schematically illustrates a top-down view looking into theopposing second major surface with the foot support;

FIG. 4 schematically illustrates a side view of the opposing secondmajor surface with the foot support movably attached thereto;

FIG. 5 schematically illustrates a view looking into a right side ofpedicure foot stool, which includes a slot;

FIG. 6 schematically illustrates a cross-sectional view looking into theslot of FIG. 5;

FIG. 7 schematically illustrates a first approach to moveably couplingthe top side and the pedicure foot stool;

FIG. 8 schematically illustrates a second approach to moveably couplingthe top side and the pedicure foot stool;

FIG. 9 schematically illustrates a perspective view of the pedicure footstool in a use state in which the foot support is positioned outside ofthe pedicure foot stool;

FIG. 10 schematically illustrates a view looking into the cavity at amajor surface of a bottom side of the pedicure foot stool;

FIG. 11 schematically illustrate the pedicure foot stool in the storagestate;

FIG. 12 schematically illustrate the pedicure foot stool at a transitionposition between the storage state and the use state;

FIG. 13 schematically illustrate the pedicure foot stool at anothertransition position between the storage state and the use state;

FIG. 14 schematically illustrate the pedicure foot stool at yet anothertransition position between the storage state and the use state;

FIG. 15 schematically illustrate the pedicure foot stool at stillanother transition position between the storage state and the use state;

FIG. 16 schematically illustrate the pedicure foot stool in the usestate;

FIG. 17 schematically illustrates a variation of the top side shown inFIG. 2 with storage recesses; and

FIG. 18 schematically illustrates a cross-sectional view of a storagerecess of FIG. 17.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

FIG. 1 schematically illustrates an example foot stool 100. Although thefoot stool 100 is described herein with particular application to apedicure foot stool, it is to be understood that one of ordinary skillin the art, based on the disclosure herein, and without undueexperimentation, could user and/or modify the foot stool 100 for otherapplications such as a shoe shine foot stool and/or other foot stool,and/or other stool for purposes unrelated to the foot.

In this example, the pedicure foot stool 100 includes a top side 102, aleft side 104 (not visible in FIG. 1), a right side 106, a front side108, a back side 110 (not visible in FIG. 1) and a bottom side 112 (notvisible in FIG. 1). Generally, the left side 104 is the same as theright side 106, the back side 110 is the same as the front side 108, andthe bottom side 112 is the same as the top side 102 outside of thedifferences disclosed herein. The illustrated sides 102-112 are allplanar with opposing major surfaces.

The left side 104, the right side 106, the front side 108, the back side110 and the bottom side 112 are fixed together via a fixing material orelement such as an adhesive (e.g., glue, tape, etc.), a nail, a screw, adoll pin, etc., and the top side 102 is moveably coupled to the leftside 104 and the right side 106, as described in greater detail below.The top side 102, the left side 104, the right side 106, the front side108, the back side 110 and the bottom side 112, when assembled, form abox with perpendicular sides with a material free region cavity therein.

The illustrated box is cubed shaped (e.g., a square cuboid). Suitabledimensions include a length, a width and a height in a range of sixinches to three feet. For example, in one instance, the pedicure footstool 100 is one foot by one foot by one foot. In another instance, thepedicure foot stool 100 is two foot by two foot by two foot. In yetanother instance, the pedicure foot stool 100 is ten inches by teninches by ten inches. In a variation, at least two pairs of opposingsides are rectangular in shape. In yet another variation, at least oneside is not planar. For example, a side could be convex, concave,irregular, hexagonal, etc. shaped.

In the illustrated embodiment, a geometry (height and length) of the topside 102, the front side 108 and the back side 110 is smaller than ageometry of the left side 104, the right side 106 and the bottom side108. Ends 114 of the front side 108 and ends (not visible in FIG. 1) ofthe back side 110 are attached to the inner major surface (not visiblein FIG. 1) of the left side 104, an inner major surface (not visible inFIG. 1) the right side 106 and an inner major surface (not visible inFIG. 1) the bottom side 108. The illustrated configuration is notlimiting, and other configurations are contemplated herein.

With reference to FIGS. 1 and 2, the top side 102 includes recesses 116on opposing first and second major surfaces 118 and 120 at a forwardedge 122. The top side 102 further includes holes 202 (FIG. 2) atopposing sides 124 near a back edge 126, which opposes the forward edge122. With reference to FIGS. 3 and 4, attached to the second majorsurface 120 is a foot support 302. The foot support 302 includes a healsupport 304, which protrudes out of the foot support 302 in a directionperpendicular to the foot support 302.

With reference to FIG. 4, the foot support 302 is attached to the secondmajor surface 120 of the top side 102 via a standoff 402. In theillustrated embodiment, the standoff 402 includes a bearing 404, whichincludes a first portion 406 movably coupled to a stationary secondportion 408 and configured to move in two or three dimensions. Thestandoff further includes a first member 410 and a second member 412.The first member 410 is attached to the first portion 406. The secondmember 412 is attached to second first portion 412.

The second member 412 is attached to the second major surface 120 suchthat the standoff 402 extends perpendicular therefrom. In theillustrated embodiment, the foot support 302 is attached to the firstmember 410 at an angle of about forty-five degrees with respect to thesecond major surface 120. Suitable angles include an angle in a range ofzero degrees to ninety degrees (e.g., thirty degrees, forty-fivedegrees, seventy-three degrees etc.). The attachments can be through anadhesive, a nail, a screw, a nut and bolt, a bracket, a fixture, etc.

A non-limiting example of the bearing 402 is a ball and socket bearing,which permits spherical rotation. Such a bearing allows for unlimitedmotion in three rotational degrees of freedom. The bearing 402 alsoincludes a locking mechanism 414, which is configured with an actuatorwhich when actuated locks the bearing 402 to maintain the currentposition of the first member 410 and inhibit movement of the firstmember 410 until the locking mechanism 414 is released. Examples oflocking mechanisms 414 include a thumb screw, a threaded lock collar,etc.

With reference to FIGS. 1 and 5, the right side 106 (and the left side104) includes a slot 128. The slot 128 extends horizontally along theright side 106 between the front and back sides 108 and 110 and entirelythrough the thickness of the right side 106. The slot 128 is located ata top region 130 of the right side 106. A recessed lip 132 extendsaround a perimeter of the slot 128. FIG. 6 shows a view along the lineA-A of FIG. 5 looking into the slot 128. From FIG. 6, the recessed lip132 extends beyond the slot 128 at the ends 602 and 602.

Returning to FIG. 1, again, top side 102 is moveably coupled to the leftside 104 and the right side 106. FIGS. 1 and 7 schematically illustrateone such coupling. In FIG. 7, a pin 702 extends through the slot 128 andinto the hole 202 of the top side 102. In this example, the hole 202includes a threaded collar 704, and the pin 702 includes a threadedportion 706 with threads complementary to threads of the threaded collar704. The pin 702 further includes a shaft 708 and a cap 710.

With continuing reference to FIG. 7, the shaft 708 of the pin 702 has afirst diameter and the cap 710 of the pin 702 has a second diameter. Inthis example, the second diameter is greater than the first diameter,providing a shoulder. With reference to FIGS. 1 and 7, the cap 710 sitsin the recessed lip 132, extending over the ends 602. With thisconfiguration, the cap 710 is either flush with the outside of the rightside 106 or recessed therein, and the cap 710 prevents the right side106 from sliding over the pin 702.

In the illustrated embodiment, the shaft 708 portion of the pin 702 hasa smooth surface. In a variation, this surface is not smooth. The smoothsurface of the shaft 708 rides in the slot 128, wherein the slot 128acts as guide for the pin 702 and allows the shaft 708 and hence the pin702 to translate from one end of the left side 104 and the right side106 to the other end of left side 104 and the right side 106. In avariation, the slot 128 includes a track, which may provide furtherstability and reduce wear.

FIG. 8 shows an alternative embodiment in which the hole 202 initiallyhas a smaller diameter than an end 802 of the pin 702. In this example,the pin 804 is coupled to the top side 102 via a press fit in which theend 802 of the pin 804 is urged (e.g., pushed) into the hole 202, andthe friction between a wall of the hole and the end 802 fastens the pin804 to the top side 102. The pin 702 in FIG. 8 includes the cap 710discussed in connection with FIGS. 1 and 7. Other approaches are alsocontemplated herein.

The coupling discussed herein allows that the top side 102, via the pin702, to translate and pivot with respect to the remainder of thepedicure foot stool 100, e.g., to pivot or flip one hundred and eightydegrees. FIG. 1 schematically illustrates the pedicure foot stool 100with the bottom surface 120 and the foot support 302 facing into thecavity. FIG. 9 schematically illustrates the pedicure foot stool 100with the top side 102 flipped one hundred and eighty degrees and thebottom surface 120 and the foot support 302 facing out.

FIG. 10 schematically illustrates a view looking into the cavity and atan inner major surface 1002 of the bottom side 112 with the top side 102removed. In this example, the inner major surface 1002 includes walls1004 extending up therefrom. The regions within the walls 1004 and/orsides 104, 106, 108 and 108 provide volumetric compartments on the innersurface 1002, which can be used to store and/or hold objects such asnail polish, nail and/or skin files, rubbing alcohol, etc. In avariation, the walls 1004 are omitted and/or otherwise arranged.

FIGS. 11-16 illustrate example operation of the pedicure foot stool 100to transition the pedicure foot stool 100 between a closed or storagestate in which the foot support 302 is inside the cavity and an activeor use state in which the foot support 302 is outside of the cavity.FIG. 11 shows the pedicure foot stool 100 in the storage state in whichthe foot support 302 is in the cavity. In FIGS. 12-16, the top side 102is pivoted about the pin 702, which is translated in the slot 128 fromone end to the other end of the slot 128, flipping the top side 102. ForFIGS. 12-16, a user can grasp the top side 102 via the two recesses 116and lift and pull concurrently or consecutively to pivot and translatethe top side 102. FIG. 16 shows the pedicure foot stool 100 in the usestate in which the foot support 302 is outside of the cavity. Thepedicure foot stool 100 is transitioned from the use state to thestorage state following FIG. 16 to FIG. 11.

FIG. 17 schematically illustrates a variation of the second majorsurface 120 of the tip side 102 that includes one or more storagerecesses 1702. Each recess 1702 includes a holding mechanism 1704. Inthe illustrated example, the holding mechanism 1708 is configured tohold a container, e.g., a nail polish container, and includes a materialfree region in which the nail polish can be supported and secured by theholding mechanism 1704. FIG. 18 schematically illustrates across-sectional view of a holding mechanism 1704

The pedicure foot stool 100 describe herein is readily easy to use. Forexample, in one instance it requires is pivoting and translating of thetop side 102 to transition between storage and use states. Furthermore,if the foot support 302 is in a suitable position, no locking isrequired. Furthermore, the motion of the foot support is not restrictedto two dimensions, allowing the individual to position and maintain thefoot in a comfortable position while performing the pedicure.Furthermore, when closed for storage, the foot support 302 is hiddeninside, leaving no extraneous protrusion susceptible to snagging onanother object, and not increasing the overall size and/or making itmore difficult to store at least since the top is a planar surface.

The application has been described with reference to variousembodiments. Modifications and alterations will occur to others uponreading the application. It is intended that the invention be construedas including all such modifications and alterations, including insofaras they come within the scope of the appended claims and the equivalentsthereof.

What is claimed is:
 1. An apparatus, comprising: a plurality of sidesconfigured as a container with at least a front and a back and a cavitytherein; a first side of the plurality of sides including: a first majorsurface; and a second major surface, which opposes the first majorsurface, wherein the second major surface includes a foot supportattached thereto; a forward edge; and a back edge; a side that extendsbetween the front edge and the back edge; and a hole in side adjacent tothe back edge; a second side of the plurality of sides with a slotextending in a direction between the front and the back; and a pin thatextends through the slot and into the hole securing the first side tothe container, wherein the first side pivots with the pin in the slotand translates with the pin in the slot between the front and the back.2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first side is configured topivot through one hundred and eighty degrees.
 3. The apparatus of claim2, wherein the first side is configured to pivot and translate between astorage position and a use position.
 4. The apparatus of claim 3,wherein the foot support is disposed in the cavity in the storageposition.
 5. The apparatus of claim 4, wherein the foot support islocated outside of the cavity in the use position.
 6. The apparatus ofclaim 1, wherein the hole includes a threaded sleeve and the pinincludes a threaded member, wherein threads of the sleeve arecomplementary to the threads of threaded member, and the threads ofthreaded member engage the threads of the sleeve.
 7. The apparatus ofclaim 1, wherein the hole has a first diameter and the pin has a seconddiameter, the second diameter is greater than the first diameter, andthe pin is secured in the hole via a frictional force between the seconddiameter and the first diameter.
 8. The apparatus of claim 1, whereinthe second side has an outer surface facing away from the cavity, theslot has a recessed lip around its perimeter and the pin has a cap onand end opposite the hole, and the cap pin sits in the recessed lipflush with the outer surface of the second side.
 9. The apparatus ofclaim 1, wherein the first side further includes a standoff, wherein afirst end of the standoff is affixed to the second major surface and asecond end of the standoff is affixed to the foot support.
 10. Theapparatus of claim 9, wherein the second end of the standoff isconfigured to move with respect to the first end of the standoff. 11.The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the second end of the standoff isconfigured to move in three dimensions with respect to the first end ofthe standoff.
 12. The apparatus of claim 10, further including a lockingmechanism to lock the second end of the standoff at a position withrespect to the first end of the standoff.
 13. The apparatus of claim 9,wherein the standoff is a ball and socket bearing.
 14. The apparatus ofclaim 1, wherein the container has a square cuboid shape.
 15. Theapparatus of claim 1, wherein the container has a rectangular cuboidshape.
 16. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first side has a firstrecess on the first major surface and a second recess on the secondmajor surface, wherein the first and second recesses are disposed at theforward edge of the first side.
 17. The apparatus of claim 1, whereinthe foot support includes a heal support.
 18. The apparatus of claim 1,wherein the second major surface further includes at least oneinstrument holder.
 19. The apparatus of claim 1, further including atleast an inner surface of a bottom side of the container; wherein theinner surface includes at least one instrument holder.
 20. A method,including: pivoting a top side of a pedicure foot stool about a pivotwith respect to a body of the pedicure foot stool through an arc of onehundred and eighty degrees; and translating the top side of the pedicurefoot stool, via the pivot, through a slot in at least one side of thepedicure foot stool, wherein the pivoting and translating transition thepedicure foot stool between a first state in which a foot supportattached to a first major surface of the top side is positioned in acavity of the pedicure foot stool and a second state in which the footsupport attached to the first major surface of the top side ispositioned outside of the cavity of the pedicure foot stool.